The NFL season is officially back, with the first Sunday slate finally here. While the action got kicked off with a Thursday Night matchup between the Eagles and Cowboys, as well as a Friday Night game between the Chiefs and Chargers, 13 games are on the Sunday schedule. One of the more intriguing matchups of the opening weekend will be between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets. The starting quarterbacks on these teams switched locations from last season and will each be hungry for some revenge. Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields face off, but cannot do it alone.
The Steelers enter the Week 1 matchup as three-point favorites and -155 on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. New York holds +130 odds of getting the outright victory with the game total set at 37.5.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in the action beyond just backing a side. This article will look at my three favorite prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for the season-opening matchup.
Jets vs. Steelers Best Prop Bets
Justin Fields Under 26.5 Pass Attempts (-111)
Justin Fields served as the Steelers’ starting quarterback for the first six games of last season, before Mike Tomlin elected to roll with Russell Wilson. This did not prove to be the right solution either, and Pittsburgh elected to bring in Aaron Rodgers to run the show this year. Fields did not have to wait long to have a chance for his revenge, and this is sure to be a meaningful matchup for the 26-year-old.
Unfortunately, expect the Jets to keep the leash relatively short from a passing perspective. Aaron Glenn said his team intends to run the ball a lot. The first time head coach told reporters he plans on using three running backs, and all signs point toward Fields needing to be more impactful with his legs than his arms this season.
Even looking at his time with the Steelers last season, Fields was held to under 26.5 pass attempts in three of his six starts. Across his career, Fields has attempted under 26.5 pass attempts in 30 of the 50 games he has appeared in. The 37.5 points game total hints that this is expected to be a low-scoring matchup, and both teams will need to earn every yard they pick up. Count on the Jets being completely comfortable leaning on a rush-oriented attack and preventing Fields from airing it out too frequently.
DK Metcalf Over 54.5 Receiving Yards (-114)
The Steelers made a surprising trade to send away a second-round draft pick in exchange for DK Metcalf this offseason. The 27-year-old has 6,324 receiving yards and 48 touchdowns across his six seasons in the league. He will immediately emerge as the top target for Rodgers and bring his physical style of football to this Steelers offense. While Rodgers will not be confused for the prime version of himself, he is still willing to take some chances and allow his wide receivers to make plays.
Metcalf will be itching for these types of opportunities, with few players capable of meeting him at the point for a catch when it is up for grabs. The two-time Pro Bowler has been quarterback-proof thus far in his career, recording 900+ receiving yards in every season regardless of who is throwing him the football. Just last year, Metcalf tallied over 54.5 receiving yards in nine of the 15 games he played. New York had a respectable overall defense last year, which ranked 20th in points allowed but third in yards given up. But plenty of changes have been made across the roster and coaching staff, with the head coach and defensive coordinator at the top of the list.
Expect the Steelers to be willing to give Metcalf a few chances at a big play, with it taking as few as one catch to clear this prop line. He will be the top option in the passing attack for Pittsburgh, and there will be a feel-out process for each of these teams.
Justin Fields Anytime TD Scorer (+200)
While the impact with his arms may be a bit limited, count on the Jets using Fields’ legs frequently. The Ohio State product has 19 career rushing touchdowns across 44 starts. Just last season, Fields tallied five rushing touchdowns, along with his five passing touchdowns, through the first six games he started for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh ranked eighth in total points allowed last season, but ninth in passing touchdowns allowed and 15th in rushing touchdowns conceded. New York already has plans to lean on a rush-oriented offense, and Fields will be at the epicenter of this. His ability with his legs in the red zone is one of his biggest strengths, and the Jets will surely be utilizing this to the fullest extent in the season opener.
There are sure to be plenty of emotions in this matchup, with revenge on the mind of both quarterbacks. There is no better way for Fields to assert himself than running in for the touchdown himself. Getting +200 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook for what may very well be the Jets’ top red zone offense is great value.
